This was the first lesson back after the holiday season. And it started with a double lesson. Sarisha had bought herself a violin at the end of last year from Animato. They originally sold Patience when she was brand new. We compared violins. Laura played them both, then we played each others. Sarisha's violin sounds quite similar to mine with the exception of the E-string. Her sounds is a little cleaner and crisper than mine. It will be interesting to see how the sound of each violin continues to develop over the years.
Again I will make the point that hearing Laura play on Patience shows to me a) what a wonderful sound can be coaxed from the violin by someone who knows that they are doing, and b) I have a long way to go. If I never get another violin I will be more than happy with Patience.
To my lesson... the lack of practice showed. I was a little rusty with the two pieces I played. They were okay, but I have to work on the finer points. Plesiosaurus was first. Laura showed me how to learn the rhythm when it looks unfamiliar. I just entered a few bars into Noteflight :) Laura suggested to break down the notes so they are of equal value (time-wise) and play them like that. Eventually I can slur the longer notes until I am playing with the correct rhythm. Some of my rhythm was off. And when a song starts loud it really needs to be played loud to allow room for the rest of the dynamics.
To someone else it may seem Laura is being picky, but I will have her to thank when, later on, people complement me for my playing.
First Base was next. This went pretty well. I need to do the "plane taking off" move for some of the notes - ha, it sounds like a Tai Chi move or something - where there is a long note and the bow lifts off the strings towards the end, otherwise the end of the note can sound abrupt. I need to respect the rests in the song. Most of the are too short and I need to play what is in front of me. Then there is remembering the difference between dots (staccato, short), accents (punchy), and the combination (short punchy).
Learning a violin piece if like a software project: the first 90% takes 90% of the time. The last 10% takes 90% of the time. But it will be the last 10% that takes it from "meh, okay" to "wow, cool".
After this it was Sarisha's turn for her lesson. She is doing Raggle Taggle Hippie, like I am, but she can play through the whole piece while I am doing just the first half. Even so I was able to pick up on some things I have been doing incorrectly. It also occurs to me that Laura may be teaching us to play the same song in slightly different ways to make the most our own styles and own violins. What I would really like to one day is record both of us playing that piece and comparing and contrasting the two. I would like to present them to people without telling them who played what and getting their interpretation. Then perhaps record Laura playing it too for another contrast :)
Sarisha also played a song Laura had arranged for her. I think it is from an Indian movie. That sounds really good too and different to anything else I have heard.
To finish off, and speaking of things I have heard, the London Klezmer Quartet is in Brisbane at the end of the month. There is a workshop one night and a concert the other. I don't have the time to go to both, but I would like to go to at least one if circumstances permit. It seems a little greedy especially since I had such a great time at the Underscore Orkestra :)
And Musica Viva have announced concerts for 2014. I may decide on three I really want to see and make those my shows for the year.
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